Category Archives: Iceland 2017

Day 4 – Glacier Lagoons, Diamonds and Fjords

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After a cold night and a fast breakfast we were looking forward to a full day in the warm car. For today, the longest journey of the trip was called, right into the deepest east of Iceland along fjords and glacier bays.

On the previous day, we were able to catch up with the rest of the previous day, two glacier laps (one of them randomly discovered by tourists and the “official” full of people), the floundering ice floes and seals, and the “Diamond Beach”. Diamonds in this case means ice floes on the black sand beach. Also something different.

The rest of the day was filled with the already mentioned journey along the southeast coast of Iceland, in the middle and through the east fjords. 400km later after countless holdings and photostops we arrived easily at our destination Egilsstaðir, where we had booked again after the cold night a cheap guest house.

Day 3 – the largest glacier of Europe

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sorry, only google translate 🙁

As soon as possible, our third day was a joyful surprise for us. Nearly cloudless skies, sunshine and therefore even slightly positive temperatures. We were only able to do this well, because we wanted to climb the largest glacier in Europe – Vatnajökull – with an area of ​​8,100 km² over Skaftafell.

Due to the nice weather, this time we also had some great photospots and so we spied on one of the tours to the glacier. Once again, we were wondering how many people are already traveling in Iceland at this time of the year. We had indeed (foolishly) assumed that we were the only ones to do this weather. Therefore, we could only get one of the small 3-hour glacier tours, everything else was already booked. We felt more and more the feeling with the early Reisetermin to have made a correct wise decision.

In any case, we climbed into the glacier together with our Belgian leader and a large Indian family. In addition to hiking on 60-100m deep ice is actually not really special, but definitely a cool alternative to constant waterfall looking and moreover also compared to other countries quite affordable.

Back at the starting point of the tour, we struck a bit on our own through the tangle of hiking trails in the national park until we finally met a waterfall. There were a lot of phototourists waiting for us, but it was nice. We did not want to imagine what hordes of people would be in the high season at this waterfall …

The evening had an Icelandic character for us. We could not continue on our way, because otherwise we would have been through a sandstorm with wind speeds of up to 40 m / s. That is why we camped on the closed campsite right at the foot of the glacier. Actually a great change (and completely free), but especially the dinner outside was cold and the night with -3 ° C also not much better. But we did not want it otherwise and after a warm coffee in the morning we went on to the island in the east fjords …

Day 2 – Waterfall, Black Sand and rain again

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Also our second day in Iceland was under a similar bad star as the first. We were in good shape for the afternoon, but by then we were beating (or our beautiful SUV) rain, snowstorms and wind blows. All in and by itself not so wild, the fog cover and all the snow Iceland gives a really mystical painting. Stupid only if you want to leave the car every now and then and even the rain jacket with 10000ml water column and umbrella after 15 minutes the service fail and you are already at 10 tomorrow after the first stop completely soaked in the car sits. But, of course, we do not let that happen, and we went on with the sightseeing, rented for the evening but again in a guest house to get clothes (and bones) a little dry …

Despite the rain, we have seen a lot. First we saw the waterfall “Skogafoss”, then we went on to our first black sand beach in Iceland. Here it was next to rain also super little, which is why we felt in the meantime as if we were shot with small needles. To warm us up again, we had a coffee at a restaurant in Vik, where we were surprised by sudden snowfall. Then it was then but we predicted really nice, why we could the last 50 km to our guest house the beautiful landscape of Iceland finally duly enjoyed. That led us even then to a short detour to a horse pasture to look at a few Islandponys.

Since the night was also cloud-free, we were still looking at the polar bearers, but unfortunately we had no luck this time. But we still have a little time for it 🙂

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavic and a first taste of Icelandic weather

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Sorry, only google translate…

The flight to Iceland was indeed – although full with broad sports / touring skiers – really pleasant, but Icelandair was a bit disappointing. Although the flight lasted almost four hours, there was not even a snack to the food and we were only with a bit of coffee, water and juice. But at least the landing approach compensated us a bit, because luckily the island was relatively cloud-free during the approach and gave us a taste for the snow, the glaciers and beaches for the next two weeks.

As Mike and Michelle had landed a little earlier, they were already waiting for us and went on the wild ride. Well, at least half, because first we had to find our car hire provider. According to the description should bring us a shuttle bus, which however our supplier at least officially did not. On request we got only a half-hearted “I can bring you there” from the driver. If he did so, however, we realized that the journey from the airport to the car would have been shorter than the way to the shuttle bus. But no matter, now we know it at least for the return journey.

After we sat in the rental car the wild ride then really went off. First 60km from the airport to Reykjavik, where we had chosen our first campsite for our tent. Yes, camping in Iceland in April. COLD! Smiley But Funny Winking Smiley

The campsite was then a perfect first choice, because here we were able to build up our campsite with the remains of some Vorcamper, which we did also with full hands. The yield were 9 at least half-full bottles of camping gas, salt, pepper, 2 cans of pimples and a can of “emergency risotto”. That compensated then also directly for the with 15 € / person but relatively expensive price for the camping.

After a little chat, we went to bed early for the next day to be fit. After a (really fresh) night, the full hardness of Icelandic April was waiting for us. Wind and rain. We did not stop, of course, the Pingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet, as well as a geyser (which is probably only interesting for people who have never been to Yellowstone), as well as the Gulfoss waterfall.

After the rain and wind had left the whole day a little bit, we were wet to the bone and we were looking for a guest house in the short term not to get sick on the third day of our trip and to dry our things sensibly. To be told, we rented a studio for 4 people and eagerly awaited the weather of the next day …